Atlanta United Drops SCCL Opener to C.S. Herediano 3-1

HEREDIA, Costa Rica - Atlanta United fell to C.S. Herediano 3-1 in the first leg of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16. The return leg is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Jose Guillermo Ortiz opened the scoring for Herediano in the eighth minute. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez attempted a back-pass to Brad Guzan, but Ortiz intervened and chipped his shot past Guzan and into the vacated net.

Herediano doubled the lead in the 34th minute from Randall Azofeifa. Atlanta lost a battle in the midfield and Herediano countered past the high backline, as Ortiz played Azofeifa in alone on Guzan. The midfielder slotted to the near post for the 2-0 lead.

Julian Gressel put Atlanta on the board seven minutes later after his shot redirected off of Pablo Salazar. Gressel cut in from the right wing and aimed a left-footed shot for the far corner; however, it deflected off of Salazar's back and sailed into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

But Herediano doubled its lead soon after halftime, scoring in the 50th minute from a set piece. George Bello picked up a yellow card after colliding with an attacker near the edge of the box. On the ensuing free kick, Azofeifa drilled a ball toward the back post for an unmarked Esteban Granados, who redirected the ball into the back of the net.

The two teams will return to Atlanta for the second leg on Thursday, Feb. 28. Kickoff from Kennesaw State University's Fifth Third Bank Stadium is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (EST). The winner will then face either CF Monterrey or Alianza FC in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.